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Origin and history

The collegiate Saint-Évroult de Mortain, located in the Channel in Normandy, was founded in 1082 by Robert de Mortain, half brother of William the Conqueror, and erected as a collegiate body with the agreement of the king and bishop of Avranches. With land-funded prebends and local tithes, it became a major religious and educational centre, with an exclusive school in the valley. The relics of Saint William Firmat, raised in 1157, were preserved there, strengthening his prestige.

In 1204, a fire partially ravaged the building during the conquest of Normandy by Philippe Auguste. The reconstruction began in 1216 under the impetus of Philippe Hurepel, Count of Mortain and the king's natural son, with a funding of 1,000 pounds brought by his wife, Mathilde de Dammartin. The present church, completed around 1250, combines a francilian Gothic style (nef, massive columns) and Norman (chœur, lateral bell tower), reflecting the influence of the two architects involved.

The college experienced trouble during the wars of Religion (16th century), where the canons were threatened by Protestants. In the 18th century, it still housed twelve canons, a college restored in 1704 by the Duke of Orleans, and a rich furniture (stalls of the 16th century, master altar in marble). Ranked a historic monument in 1840, it now retains remarkable elements such as the Anglo-Saxon chrismale of the 7th century (golden copper liquary) and an 18th century organ.

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